Power reverse gear



April 1941- AE. JACKMAN, JR 2,239,893

POWER REVERSE GEAR Filed Jan. 10, 1940 I 5 Shets-Sheet 1 HJHI i S J.

April 1941' A. E. JACKMA'N, JR 2,239,893

rowan REVERSE GEAR Filed Jan. 10, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 April 29, 1941.JAQKMAM-JR 2,239,893

rowan REVERSE GEAR Filed Jan. 10, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr.29, 1941 'lho'lhnkenlollerlearin hio,acorporationof0hio s Co pany,Canton,

aromatics January 1c, 3940. Serhsl as. $13,163

4 Claims. (01. 121-40 My invention relates to power operators and moreparticularly to fluid actuated power reverse gears for operating thereverse or valve gears of steamlocomctives.

The principalobiect of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensiveand easy operable fluid actuated power reverse gear that will accuratelyadjust the valve gear and positively lock it in the selected position ofadjustment, thus preventing power lossesand speed variations: and alsoto provide a self-contained power reverse gear which is selflubricating. Further objects will appear hereinafter.

My invention consists principally in a locomo tive power reverse gear inwhich a cylinder having a piston connected to the locomotive valve gearis actuated by an incompressible liquid under pressure, controlled by avalve which is manually opened by a lever in the locomotive cab and isclosed by the movement of said piston;

' and it also consists in the parts and combinations and arrangements ofparts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of the specification andwherein like reference numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a side ele on of a portion of a lomain crank pin 1 and attheir remote ends to crank pins IQ fixed to'the respective drivingwheels 8.

The slide valve II, which controls the admission of steam to-anditsexhaust from the 1000- motive cylinder i, works in the steam chest M ofsaid cylinder and is mechanically operated from an eccentric crank itfixed to the main crank pin 1, an eccentric rod id pivoted at one end tosaid eccentric crank and at its other end to one end of a reverse linkIt pivoted at its center on a bracket i8, and a radius rod I! having aslot-and-pin connection I8 near one end comotive, illustrating-a powerreverse gear embodylngmy invention in connection with the valve gear orlink motion of said locomotive; and

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are eniarged central longitudinal verticalsectional views through said power reverse gear, illustrating theoperation thereof.

In Fig. 1 of the accompanyin drawings, a power reverse gear embodying myinvention is shown connected toa valve gear or link motion or. the kindused on steam locomotives for controlling the admission of steam to andits exhaust from the steam cylinder so the locomotive may be run eitherforwarder backward or,brought to a stop. I

In accordance with action-power with said reverse link and a pivotalconnection at its other end with one end of a combination lever is whichis pivoted near said end on a slidably supported crosshead that issecured to the stem it of said slide valve and has a link connection 22at its opposite end with the main crosshead 8.

The reverse or valve gear or motion work, by which the engineman changesthe position of the distribution valve H to stop the locomotive or 'runit forward or backward, comprises a lifting link 23 pivoted at its lowerend to the rear end of the radius rod l1 and at its upper end to the endof an'arm 24 fixed to a lifting or tumbling shaft 25 that is iournaledin hearings or boxes 2s and has an upstandinghrrn :1 that is adapted tobe operated by my power reverse gear. The arrangement thus far describedis well known and it is considered unnecessary illustrate it in detail.

My power reverse gear, which is preferably mounted on the right handside of the locomotive Just forward of the cab and below the run- 7 ningboard, comprises a horizontal power cylinder ",and a piston 3|reciprocable in said cylinder, and pr'ovidedwith a piston rod 32 passingthrough a stufllng box It in the front end of said cylinderand'connected to a crosshead 34 slidable on guides or ways-38 projectingfrom said is transmitted i anth steanr cylinder on each side of thelocomotivetdjthe main drivlngwheel end of saidcylinder. The crosshead Nis connected by a, connecting rod it to the upper arm 21 ilxed to thereverse or tumbling shaft 2!, whereby the piston ll is operativelyconnected to the reverse gear to actuate the same.

The operation-of the power reverse gear is controlled by a cylindricalpiston valve Il reciprocable in a longitudinal valve bore or chamber llprovided therefor in the top of the power cylinderll. This powercylinder control valve 31 ismanuallycontrolledbytheenginemanflirough areverse lever ll located in the locomotive cab 56 and pivoted. as at ll,formovement along a sector or quadrant 42. The reverse lever 4G ispivotally connected at its lower end to the rear end of a forwardlyextending reach rod 43 whose forward end is pivotally connected to arock arm 44 which is pivotally supported at its upper end on a crosshead45 that is slidable in the forward end of the valve bore 38 and isconnected by means of a link 46 to the forward end of the piston valve3?. The rock arm tit extends downwardly across the'forward end of thepower cylinder 39 at one side of the piston rod 112 and has a linkconnection 4? with a lug 34a that depends from the crosshead 34 to whichsaid piston rod is fixed. The piston Si is actuated in the powercylinder 30 by an operating fluid contained in two reservoirs G8 andlfi.oi. the same capacity mounted on the side of the locomotive just abovesaid cylinder, said fluid being a hydraulic brake fluid which is notefl'ected by temperature changes and is practically incompressible.

Communication is established between the reservoir 48 and the rear endof the power cylinder 30 through a conduit W leading fromsaid reservoirto a port 5i in the top of the cylindrical valve bore 38, thence througheither oi two longitudinally spaced annular grooves 52, 52a in thepiston valve 3? and thence through a port 53 that opens at one end intothe bottom of said valve bore opposite the port at therein and at theother end into said cylinder at the rear end thereof. Communication isestablished between the reservoir 49 and the front end at the powercylinder 30 through a conduit 55 leading from the bottom oil'saidreservoir .to a'port 86 in the top of the valve bore, thence througheither of two longitudinally spaced annular grooves 81, 51a in thepiston valve 3i and thence through a port 58 that opens atoneend intothe bottom of said valve bore opposite the port 58 therein and at theother end into-said cylinder at the front end thereof.

Movement is imparted to the operating fluid contained in the reservoirsdo and 48 by means of air supplied thereto under pressure. ,Suchair issupplied from a suitable source of supply through a supply conduit 88that opens into the valve bore 38 through an air. inlet'port It in thetop thereof. The valve bore has an air outlet port 62, whichcommunicateswith the top 01 the reservoir 48 through'a conduit 68, and,an air exhaust port 64 open to the atmosphere. Said valve bore also hasan air outlet port 65, which communicates with the top of the reservoir69 through a conduit 68,.and an air exhaust port 6! open to theatmosphere, all of said air ports being spaced apart longitudinally ofsaid valve chamber. The pistonvalve 3f! has two longitudinally spacedgrooves 88 and 84 therein. The

roove 68 is adapted to establisn .,.communication between the air supplyand this-top oi the communication with the atmosphere, the fluid intheother reservoir is under air pressure.

Resting on the operating fluid in the reservoirs 44 and 48 are floatingpistons adapted to prevent disturbance of the hydraulic fluid by theentrance of air in the tops of said reservoirs. These pistons may be orwood, cork or metal. Ii" wood or cork, they are preferably varnished soas to make them moisture proof.

By the arrangement described, the steam cylinder valve ii is set forforward movement of the locomotive by moving the reverse lever 40forwardly past its dead center position on its quadrant 42. As shown inFig. 2, this movement of the reverse lever pulls the reach rod 43 whichscarries with it the upper end oi. the rock arm 44, thereby moving thepiston valve 31 rearwardly in reservoir 48 through the ports Ii and .42or to establish communication between the top of said reservoir and theatmosphere through the port 62 and the exhaust port 64. The groove 49 isadapted to establish communication between the air supply and the top ofthe reservoir 48 through the ports BI and G5 or to establishcommunication between the top oi said reservoir and the atmospherethrough the port 66 and the exhaust l port 61. The longitudinal spacingoi the annular grooves 88 and 49 in the piston valve and the air portsin the valve bore is such that when either one of the two reservoirs 4|and 4, .15 in its bore 38 until it abuts against the rear end of thelatter. In this position oi the piston valve, theport 53 in the rear endof the power cylinder at is placed in communication with the bottom 01'the reservoir 48 through the annular groove 52a; the port 58 in thefront end of said cylinder is placed in communication with the bottom ofthe reservoir fill! through the annular groove 51a; the

upper portion of the reservoir is placed in communication with the airsupply through the port M, annular groove 69 and port and the upper endof the reservoir 48 is placed in communication with the atmospherethrough-the port 62, annular groove 88 and exhaust port 64. On therearward position of the piston valve, air under pressure is supplied tothe upper portion of the reservoir 49 and forces th hydraulic fluidtherein through the conduit 55, port 56, annular groove Ma and port 58into the forward end or the power cylinder. thereby shifting the piston3i rearwardly therein, displacing part of the hydraulic fluid at therear of said piston through the port 53, annular passageway 52a, port 5iand conduit 40 into the reservoir 48. and exhausting the air from theupper portion of the reservoir 48 through the conduit 63, port 82,annular wardly with said piston and operates the re verse gear throughthe connecting rod 36 in a direction that will bring about the desiredsteam valve travel as initially determined by the position of thereverse gear lever 40 on its quadrant 42 in the locomotive cab. When thepiston 3| reaches the position required to eflect the desired steamvalve travel, the cross head 34 and union link 41 have also movedrearwardly with said piston to'thereby cause the rock arm 44 to pivotabout its point of connection with the reach rod t3. and. pull thepiston valve 31 pivotally connected to the upper end of said rock armforwardiy in its valve bore to its original central position, as shownin Fig. 3. In this position of the piston valve, it operates to cut oilcommunication between the ports 53 and 58 and the respective reservoirs48 and 49, thus locking the fluid in the power cylinder on oppositesides of the piston therein whereby said piston is po itively heldagainst endwise movement in said cyl-' inder by the relativeinconipressibility of the hydraulic fluid therein. In this position oi!the piston valve, the piston cuts oil communication between thereservoirs 48 and 49 and the air inlet and exhaust ports. To reverse thelocomotive the same operations as above described are repeated in areverse direction, whereupon the piston is locked inthe power cylinderin the position shown in Fig. 6. 7

When the reverse lever 40 is in central or neutralposition on itsquadrant 42, the reverse gear is in dead center position and thelocomotive is at rest. In this position of the reverse lever, the

piston valve is shifted forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4, so asto supply fluid under pressure to the rear end of the power cylinder andthus shift said piston valve to central position, as

operable to simultaneously establish at either end of its slidingmovement communication between said reservoirs and said cylinder ports,between said fluid pressure supply and one of said reservoirs andbetween the other of said reservoirs and the exhaust port therefor andfor cutting off communication between said fluid pressure supplyand thereservoir open to the exhaust port shown in Fig. 5 to thereby lock thefluid in said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston.

The hereinbefore described power reverse gear to move said piston andthe valve gearIactuated thereby in the proper direction, after which thepiston valve is automatically returned by such movement of the piston toa position that will lock the operating fluid in said cylinder and thusprevent any endwise creeping of said piston. The piston valve andcylinder are inexmnsi've to manufacture and require little attention.The device is self contained and self-lubricating and there is no lossof operating fluid; and the large fluid reservoirs provide for stableoperation.

Obviously, the hereinbefore described arrangement admits of considerablemodification. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the preciseconstruction shown and described.

What I claim is:

, 1. A power operator co'mprisingacylinder havtherefor and between thereservoir open to said fluid pressure and the exhaust port for said lastmentioned reservoir and a mechanical connection between said piston andsaid valve, whereby said valve is adapted to move with said piston andcut ofl' communication between said cylinder and said reservoirs andbetween the latter and said fluid pressure supply at a predeterminedpoint in the travel of said piston'in either direction, said mechanicalconnection comprising a crosshead movable with said piston, a linkpivoted at one end to said crosshead, an'arm pivoted at one end to saidslide valve and at its other end tosaid link, and a manually operablereach rod pivoted to said am between said ends thereof and about ingports in opposite ends thereof, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder,separate reservoirs for supplying an operating liquid to and forreceiving a return flow from said cylinder through the ports thereof,means for supplying fluid pressure to said reservoirs, ports forexhausting such fluid from the respective reservoirs, a single valveslidable longitudinally of said cylinder and manually operable tosimultaneously establish at either end of its sliding movementcommimi'cation between said reservoirs and said cylinder ports, be-

tween said fluid pressure supply and one of said 7 reservoirs andbetween the other of said reservoirs and the exhaust port therefor andfor cutting oil.

communication between said fluid pressure supply and the reservoir opento the exhaust port therefor and between the reservoir open to saidfluid pressure and the exhaust port. for. said last mentioned reservoir,and a mechanical connection between said piston and said valve, wherebysaid valve is adapted to move with said piston.

and cut oil communication between said cylinder and said reservoirs andbetween the latter and said fluid pressure supply at a predeterminedineither direcwhich said am is adapted to pivot during the mechanicaloperation of said valve. a

3. A power operator comprising a cylinder having ports in opposite endsthereof, a piston.

reciprocable in said cylinder, 9, single slide valve slidablelongitudinally of said cylinder, separate reservoirs for supplying anoperating liquid to.

and for receiving a return flow from said cylinder through the portsthereof, floats snugly fitting within said reservoirs, means for,supplying fluid pressure to the upper ends of said reservoirs, ports forexhausting such fluid from the respective reservoirs, a single controlvalve slidable longitudinally of said cylinder, manually operable meansfor operating said valve to simultaneously establish at either end ofits sliding movement communicationbetween said reservoirsand'sa'id'cylinder ports, between said fluid pressure supply and one ofsaid reservoirs and between the other of said reservoirs and the exhaustport therefor and for cutting off communication between said fluidpressure supply and the reservoir open to the exhaust port therefor andbetween the reser- 'voir open to the exhaust port for said lastmentioned reservoir, and a mechanical connection between said piston andsaid valve whereby said valve is adapted to move with said piston to cutoil. communication betweensaid cylinder and said reservoirs and betweenthe latter and said fluid pressure supply at a predetermined point inthe travel of said piston in either direction, said manual valveoperating means comprising a manually operable reach rod movablelongitudinally of said cylinder, an, arm pivoted between its ends onsaid reach rod for swineing movement in a plane parallel to the axes Iof said cylinder and slide valveand pivoted at one end to said valve,and a supporting pivot for the other end of said arm. 4. A poweroperator comprising a cylinder havingports in opposite ends thereof, apiston reciprocable insaid cylinder, a single slide valve slidablelongitudinally ofsaid cylinder, separate reservoirs for supplying anoperating liquid to and for receiving a return flow from said cylin1-operable means for operating said valve to simul- I taneously establishat either end of its sliding movement communication between saidreservoirs and said cylinder ports, between said fluid pressure supplyand one 'of said reservoirs and beeither direction, said manual valveoperating means comprising a. manually operable reach rod movablelongitudinally of said cylinder, an arm pivoted between its ends on saidreach rod for swinging movement in a plane parallel to the axes of saidcylinder and slide valve and pivoted at one end to said valve, and asupporting pivot for the other end of said arm,"said mechanicalconnection comprising a crosshead movable with said piston, and a linkpivotally connected at one end to said crosshead and having a pivotalconnection at its other end with said other end of said arm thatconstitutes said supporting pivot therefor.

ARTHUR E.-JA, JR.

